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Article 203 · Part I—Principles and framework of public finance

Equitable share and other financial laws

In plain English

Fair sharing of revenue must consider things like national interest, public debt, county needs and abilities, and disadvantaged areas. Counties must get at least 15% of all revenue the national government collects, calculated from the latest audited accounts.

The official text

(1) The following criteria shall be taken into account in determining the equitable shares provided for under Article 202 and in all national legislation concerning county government enacted in terms of this Chapter—

(a) the national interest;

(b) any provision that must be made in respect of the public debt and other national obligations;

(c) the needs of the national government, determined by objective criteria;

(d) the need to ensure that county governments are able to perform the functions allocated to them;

(e) the fiscal capacity and efficiency of county governments;

(f) developmental and other needs of counties;

(g) economic disparities within and among counties and the need to remedy them;

(h) the need for affirmative action in respect of disadvantaged areas and groups;

(i) the need for economic optimisation of each county and to provide incentives for each county to optimise its capacity to raise revenue;

(j) the desirability of stable and predictable allocations of revenue; and

(k) the need for flexibility in responding to emergencies and other temporary needs, based on similar objective criteria.

(2) For every financial year, the equitable share of the revenue raised nationally that is allocated to county governments shall be not less than fifteen per cent of all revenue collected by the national government.

(3) The amount referred to in clause (2) shall be calculated on the basis of the most recent audited accounts of revenue received, as approved by the National Assembly.

Summaries and answers are a plain-English guide written by Iam254, not legal advice. The official text is what counts. Official text: Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting), legislation as at 3 September 2010. It has not been amended since.